Bhagwan Singh AUSSIE

Date2016

Object number00055710

NamePoster

Mediumpaper

DimensionsOverall: 1177 × 834 mm

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection

Terms

DescriptionAUSSIE poster featuring a 1927 exemption to the White Australia Policy photo of Bhagwan Singh by Adelaide street artist and activist Peter Drew. The ‘AUSSIE’ series was inspired by the collection of Certificates of Exemption from the Dictation Test (CEDT) held in the National Archives of Australia. HistorySince 2013, Adelaide street artist and activist Peter Drew has been installing his handmade posters in public space to raise awareness of issues around immigration, asylum seekers and Australian identity. Drew says, 'The aim of my work over the last year has been to pose a question about the casual assumptions that underlie Australia's identity; does ‘Aussie’ describe the people who wrote the White Australia policy, or does ‘Aussie’ have more to do with the people who survived it? I see more to admire in the courage of those who chose to make Australia their home, despite the racial discrimination of its government.' SignificanceThis poster provides a compelling reflection of the intersection between protest art, politics and national identity. Peter Drew’s poster locates personal stories and lived experiences within a broader immigration policy framework, giving agency to figures such as Bhagwan Singh as a survivor of the White Australia policy. It reflects the emerging relationship between artists and activists in responding to Australia's changing immigration policies.